Less trash, more treasure. Waste production and reduction in Orthopaedic surgery

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Waste Management

Background:

• Operating theatres produce considerable waste, posing environmental challenges.
• This study addresses the need for sustainable waste management in orthopaedic surgery.
• Quantifying waste and carbon footprint is essential for environmental responsibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify waste generated during common orthopaedic procedures.
• To identify recyclable materials within surgical waste streams.
• To assess the carbon footprint associated with orthopaedic waste and explore reduction strategies.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 60 orthopaedic procedures (TKA, THA, ankle fracture, hand injury) in Australia.
• Waste categorized into landfill, recyclable, and biohazardous streams.
• Analysis of recyclable components in landfill waste and calculation of carbon dioxide emissions (tCO2-e).

Main Results:

• Total waste: 425.7 kg (average 8.2 kg/case). Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) generated the most waste (11.7 kg/case).
• Recyclable materials constituted 44% of total waste; 12% of landfill waste was potentially recyclable.
• Proper segregation could reduce Australian TKA-related CO2 emissions by up to 75 tonnes annually.

Conclusions:

• A substantial fraction of orthopaedic surgical waste is recyclable.
• Implementing effective waste management can significantly lower the environmental impact of surgeries.
• Enhanced staff training and accessible recycling facilities are key to optimizing waste reduction.